Butler Reunites with Luckless Tiger

Wulguru trainer Tony Comerford has turned to leading heavyweight jockey Ashley Butler to turn around the fortunes of tough galloper Ready Tiger at Cluden Park on Tuesday.

Butler has ridden Ready Tiger in his only two Townsville wins, and Comerford is hoping reuniting the pair will see a return to form in the Hygain BM 65 Hcp (1609m).

Nothing has gone right for Ready Tiger in three starts since he won over 2000m at Cluden on Townsville Cup Day on August 9.

“Ash has won two out of three on him and was just beaten the only other time and got held up and probably should have won,” Comerford said.

“He knows him so well so it’s a big plus to have him back on,” Comerford said.

“But the horse has just had no luck lately.  

“It’s just been nightmarish. In his last three starts since he won here over 1000m on Cup Day he’s been beaten 10 lengths, five lengths and three lengths and had no luck at all.

“After he won well here we went to Cairns and he just didn’t travel and was well beaten.

“He pulled up good and had 10 days in the paddock and I thought we’d give him a few more runs before it gets too hot.

“It’s just been nightmarish. He drew wide two back and just couldn’t get in and was four and five wide and then the saddle shifted on him last start with 63kg and he still ran third beaten just on three lengths.

“You have to put a line through them. Apart from that he’s run a place in nearly every start for us here in Townsville.

He’s pulled through his last start well and he should run well. He normally runs an honest race.”

Ready Tiger’s eye-catching effort to finish third with 63kg over 1609m behind Convertor and Out Of Luck on October 5 was enough to convince Comerford to pursue another win before spelling the five-year-old son of Casino Prince.

The tough gelding had a tough run after his saddle shifted in the back straight, placing his jockey Aidan Holt at a major disadvantage.

He will again meet Convertor as well as the consistent Acclimatise, Blazerro, Rockhampton visitor Prepotent, and the improving Sand ‘N’ Power but drops in weight to 61kg.

Tuesday’s seven-event card will kick-off a big week of racing in Townsville which will continue with Saturday’s running of the Pallarenda Stakes, traditionally the first two-year-old race of the season at Cluden.